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Button, however, was beaming, saying his latest triumph gave him "a lot of confidence" as the championship moves on to Monaco.

"I'm so happy -- once you start winning it is such a great feeling," added the Briton, who has had to play second fiddle to compatriot Hamilton until a remarkable reversal of fortunes in F1's established order.

"Last year, it felt just the opposite. But when it goes well, it really goes well doesn't it? I'm on top of the world now compared to last year. But I have to say that the whole team did a magnificent job."

There was drama at the start of the race at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona as a mass pileup on the second corner saw Jarno Trulli's Toyota going off and then spinning back on to the track to end the chances of other drivers.

The Toro Rosso cars of Sebastien Buemi and Sebastien Bourdais plus Trulli and Adrian Sutil's Force India went out and the race only resumed after five laps behind the safety car.